Bits and Bridles

Dual New Zealand Cup harness racing winner Copy That (American Ideal) is back in the country.

He last started at Alexandra Park in September, and after that run investigations showed the horse had some wear and tear on a knee which needed addressing. He was operated on in Australia and sent to a rehab farm in Ballarat.

He’s since returned home and is at Margaret Park near Cambridge starting a water treadmill programme.

Canterbury trainers Mark Jones and Micheal House are approaching 800 winners, both currently sitting on 796.

House has thirty two horses spread across three meetings in the next five days with thirteen at Addington tomorrow, thirteen at Ashburton on Sunday and six at Ascot Park on Monday.

Jones has lighter numbers with five at Addington and one at Ashburton.

With half the season nearly over it’s time for a mid-season summary of all the Group and Listed races.

In the twenty two Group or Listed trotting races three stallions have dominated, with Muscle Hill, What The Hill and Orlando Vici each having four wins whilst in the thirty six pacing races at Group or Listed level, Art Major leads the stallions ranks with nine winners from Captaintreacherous on seven and Always B Miki next on five.

The leading stables in both gaits for the six month periods were Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan with nine, Mark and Nathan Purdon eight and Steve and Amanda Telfer seven while the leading driver was Zachary Butcher with five from Tim Williams and Natalie Rasmussen on four.

Two drivers recorded their first Group One success; Crystal Hackett on Mach Shard in the Taylor Mile and Tony Cameron driving Inasinglemoment in the Northern Trotting Oaks.

Unbeaten Southland mare Southside Of Heaven (Rock N Roll Heaven) races at Addington tomorrow night.

Trained by Brent McIntyre the four year old impressively won on debut at Winton by one and a quarter lengths running the 1609 metres in 1-57.7 on an easy track before going on to win at Ascot Park by one and a half lengths.

Southside Of Heaven is owned by Paul Hailes, Jonny Turner and Caine McIntyre and will be driven by Jonny Cox.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink